Cheap Fuel Efficiency: Ten 40 MPG Cars For Under $20,000

For many people, the purchase of a fuel efficient car is usually made to save money on driving, as the cost of being a car owner rises further and further.

That being the case, why buy an expensive car in the first place, potentially taking years longer to pay off the fuel savings? The good news is that there are plenty of cars available for less than $20,000 that will still get you 40 MPG on the highway.

Honda's Civic has always been known for its fuel efficiency and the 2012 model is no different. 40mpg on the highway has been achieved through fuel saving features such as aerodynamic body moldings and streamlined wheel trims. It's cheaper than the Civic Hybrid, too.

It's a pity that Ford charges $495 extra for its SFE package on the Focus (on SE trim only), helping it hit 40mpg from the standard car's 38mpg highway. We'd like to see the fuel saving bits and pieces as standard.

Another Honda, and the only hybrid in our ten cheapest 40mpg cars, for which Honda must be commended. 43mpg on the highway is the best here too. If you can't stretch the extra few thousand towards a Prius, then the Insight is probably your best option.

The new 2012 Kia Rio isn't just one of America's cheapest cars - it's also a true 40mpg contender with the new 138 horsepower 1.6. It even looks great, which couldn't be said about the cheaper, less efficient old model. Price is rumored to be around $13k, but it's more likely to match the 2012 Hyundai Accent on price.

If you want to stand out for as little money as possible, even the Veloster can't top the tiny Smart Fortwo Coupe. It may not be as efficient as you'd expect (and nowhere near the European diesel version), but for this price you can't sniff at 41 mpg on the highway. With the Rio going upmarket for 2012, the Smart will be the cheapest 40mpg car on sale.